1930 FIFA World Cup
FIFA president Jules Rimet stood before the 17th FIFA congress in Amsterdam during May 1928 and proposed a new competition for national teams. The board accepted his motion, marking the birth of an idea that would change global football forever. Vice-president Henri Delaunay declared that international football could no longer be held within the confines of the Olympics. Uruguay emerged as the clear choice to host this inaugural event because they were celebrating the centenary of their first constitution. The Uruguayan national team had also retained their football title at the 1928 Summer Olympics just months prior. Thirteen teams eventually entered the tournament, but only four European sides made the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Depression had set in across Europe, making travel costs prohibitive for many clubs and players. Some nations refused to countenance travel to South America under any circumstances. No European entries were received before the February deadline of the 28th of February 1930. The Uruguayan Football Association sent a letter of invitation to The Football Association despite British Home Nations having resigned from FIFA. This was rejected by the FA Committee on the 18th of November 1929. Two months before the start of the tournament, no team from Europe had officially entered. FIFA president Rimet intervened personally to secure participation. Four European teams eventually made the trip by sea: Belgium, France, Romania and Yugoslavia. The Romanians boarded the SS Conte Verde at Genoa, Italy while the French and Yugoslavs were picked up at Villefranche-sur-Mer, France on the 21st of June 1930. The Belgians embarked at Barcelona, Spain. The official ball used for the tournament was the T-Model.
Uruguay's bid became the clear selection after all other countries withdrew their bids including Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain and Hungary. All matches took place in Montevideo using three stadiums: Estadio Centenario, Estadio Pocitos, and Estadio Gran Parque Central. The Estadio Centenario was built both for the tournament and as a celebration of the centenary of Uruguayan independence. Designed by Juan Scasso, it was the primary stadium for the tournament referred to by Rimet as a temple of football. With a capacity of 90,000, it was the largest football stadium outside the British Isles. The stadium hosted 10 of the 18 matches including both semi-finals and the final. However, the construction schedule was rushed and delayed by a rainy winter. Therefore the Centenario was not ready for use until five days into the tournament. Early matches were played at smaller stadiums usually used by Montevideo football clubs Nacional and Peñarol. These included the 20,000 capacity Gran Parque Central and the Pocitos with its 10,000 capacity. Uruguay's first match was not played until five days into the tournament due to construction delays. The first to be held at the Centenario was preceded by a ceremony in honour of the Uruguayan centenary celebrations. The Uruguayan team spent four weeks preceding the match in a training camp where strict discipline was exercised. Goalkeeper Andrés Mazali was dropped from the squad for breaking a curfew to visit his wife.
The 13 teams were drawn into four groups with Group 1 containing four teams and the others containing three. Each group played a round-robin format with the four group winners progressing to the knockout semi-final stage. Since there were no qualifying games, the opening two matches of the tournament were the first World Cup games ever played. They took place simultaneously on the 13th of July 1930. France beat Mexico 4, 1 at the Estadio Pocitos while the United States defeated Belgium 3, 0 at the same time at the Estadio Gran Parque Central. France's Lucien Laurent was the scorer of the first World Cup goal. The first group contained Argentina, Chile, France, and Mexico. Two days after France's victory over Mexico they faced group favourites Argentina. Injuries hindered France as goalkeeper Alex Thépot had to leave the field after 20 minutes. Laurent spent most of the match limping after a fierce tackle by Luis Monti. However they held out for most of the match only succumbing to an 81st-minute goal scored from a Monti free kick. The game featured an officiating controversy when referee Almeida Rêgo erroneously blew the final whistle six minutes early. Play resumed only after protests from the French players. France's final match against Chile featured the first penalty kick of the World Cup. The first goalkeeper to save a penalty was Thépot of France on the 19th of July 1930 saving from Carlos Vidal in the 30th minute.
Of all the refereeing appointments two attracted the most attention including that of Gilberto de Almeida Rêgo in the match between Argentina and France. The Brazilian referee blew for full-time six minutes early while Marcel Langiller was clear on goal. Another controversial appointment involved Bolivian Ulises Saucedo in the Argentina and Mexico encounter which Argentina won 6, 3. During the game Saucedo awarded three penalties despite being also the coach of Bolivia. Group 2 contained Brazil, Bolivia, and Yugoslavia with Brazil expected to progress but unexpectedly losing 2, 1 to Yugoslavia. Going into the tournament Bolivia had never previously won an international match. For their opener they paid tribute to the hosts by wearing shirts each emblazoned with a single letter spelling Viva Uruguay as the team lined up. Both of Bolivia's matches followed a similar pattern with a promising start gradually transformed into heavy defeat. Against Yugoslavia they held out for an hour before conceding but were four goals down by the final whistle. Misfortune played its part as several Bolivian goals were disallowed. Group 3 saw the first player expulsion from the competition when Plácido Galindo of Peru was sent off against Romania. The Romanians made their man advantage pay with their 3, 1 win including two late goals and the fastest goal of the tournament. Adalbert Deșu opened the scoring after just 50 seconds. This match had the smallest crowd of any in World Cup history with an official attendance of 2,459.
The final was played at the Estadio Centenario on the 30th of July 1930 in front of 68,346 people. Feelings ran high around the La Plata Basin as Argentine supporters crossed the river with the war cry Victoria o muerte meaning victory or death. Ten boats earmarked to carry Argentine fans from Buenos Aires to Montevideo proved inadequate. An estimated 10, 15,000 Argentinians made the trip but many did not even make landfall before kick-off. At the stadium supporters were searched for weapons. The gates were opened at eight o'clock six hours before kick-off and by noon the ground was full. A disagreement overshadowed the build-up as teams failed to agree on who should provide the match ball forcing FIFA to intervene. Uruguay made one change from their semi-final line-up with Castro replacing Anselmo who missed out due to illness. Monti played for Argentina despite receiving death threats on the eve of the match. The referee was Belgian John Langenus. The hosts scored the opening goal through Pablo Dorado a low shot from a position on the right. Argentina responded strongly within eight minutes when Carlos Peucelle received a Ferreira through-ball and equalised. Shortly before half-time leading tournament goalscorer Guillermo Stábile gave Argentina a 2, 1 lead. In the second half Uruguay gradually became ascendant. Pedro Cea scored an equaliser ten minutes later followed by Santos Iriarte giving Uruguay the lead. Just before full-time Castro made it 4, 2 to seal the win. Langenus ended the match a minute later and Uruguay added the title of World Cup winner to their mantle of Olympic champions.
Francisco Varallo from Argentina was the last surviving player from this World Cup dying in 2010 at the age of 100. The 2030 FIFA World Cup opening match to be played at Estadio Centenario will honor the centennial anniversary of the World Cup. The 1930 FIFA World Cup final is the first and only one to date to have been contested between two Spanish-speaking sides. It is also the only one that was contested between two South American nations as the 1950 match between Brazil and Uruguay was technically the deciding match of the final group stage rather than an actual cup final. Uruguay's aggregate goal difference of +12 over four games remains the highest average goal difference per match of any World Cup champion. The Yugoslavia team achieved the joint-biggest success in both Yugoslav and Serbian subsequent World Cup footballing history by earning fourth place. A result that would be repeated in 1962. In 1986, FIFA published a report that ranked all teams in each World Cup up to and including 1986 based on progress in the competition overall results and quality of the opposition. The rankings for the 1930 tournament placed United States third and Yugoslavia fourth due to better goal difference on otherwise identical records. This practice has continued by FIFA ever since. Francisco Varallo who played as a forward for Argentina died on the 30th of August 2010.
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Common questions
Who proposed the 1930 FIFA World Cup and when was it approved?
FIFA president Jules Rimet proposed the competition during the 17th FIFA congress in Amsterdam in May 1928. The board accepted his motion, marking the birth of an idea that would change global football forever.
Which countries participated in the 1930 FIFA World Cup final match?
The final match contested between two Spanish-speaking sides was played by Uruguay and Argentina on the 30th of July 1930. It is also the only one that was contested between two South American nations as the 1950 match between Brazil and Uruguay was technically the deciding match of the final group stage rather than an actual cup final.
When did the first World Cup goal occur and who scored it?
France's Lucien Laurent was the scorer of the first World Cup goal during matches that took place simultaneously on the 13th of July 1930. These opening games were the first World Cup games ever played since there were no qualifying games.
Where were all matches for the 1930 FIFA World Cup held?
All matches took place in Montevideo using three stadiums: Estadio Centenario, Estadio Pocitos, and Estadio Gran Parque Central. The Estadio Centenario was built both for the tournament and as a celebration of the centenary of Uruguayan independence.
Who was the last surviving player from the 1930 FIFA World Cup and when did he die?
Francisco Varallo from Argentina was the last surviving player from this World Cup dying in 2010 at the age of 100. Francisco Varallo who played as a forward for Argentina died on the 30th of August 2010.